Eavestrough cover

ABSTRACT

An eavestrough cover which has a central portion formed of a woven material and a front longitudinally extending portion and a rear longitudinally extending portion, the woven material being embossed in a generally transverse direction so as to improve the rigidity of the woven material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an eavestrough cover and moreparticularly, relates to an eavestrough cover or screen which permitsthe flow of water into a gutter while preventing debris from collectingin the gutter or eavestrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of eavestrough covers (also known as gutter guards) is wellknown in the art. These eavestrough covers have gained popularity as theproblem of clogged gutters is almost universal. Irrespective of theclimate, leaves and other debris find their way into the eavestrough.These can lead to clogging of the eavestrough, either at the downspoutor elsewhere. This in turn can lead to water back up into adjacentstructures. Wood rot and other problems can then occur.

In order to overcome this problem, the use of eavestrough covers iswidely practiced. These eavestrough covers permit the passage of waterinto the eavestrough or gutter while preventing extraneous matter fromentering the eavestrough. Various mounting systems have been employed inorder to secure the eavestrough cover in place. The success of themounting system will frequently depend on the place of installation andthe design of the eavestrough cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an eavestrough coverwhich is designed to prevent extraneous matter from entering theeavestrough while also efficiently allowing the passage of water throughthe cover into the eavestrough.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aneavestrough cover having sufficient rigidity to be easily secured inplace.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aneavestrough cover comprising a front longitudinally extending portion, arear longitudinally extending portion, a central portion extendingbetween and secured to both of the front longitudinally extendingportion and the rear longitudinally extending portion, the centralportion being formed of a woven material, and the woven material beingembossed in a generally transverse direction so as to improve therigidity of the woven material.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided in combination, an eavestrough cover comprising a frontlongitudinally extending portion, a rear longitudinally extendingportion, a central portion extending between and secured to both of thefront longitudinally extending portion and the rear longitudinallyextending portion, the central portion being formed of a woven material,the woven material being embossed in a generally transverse direction soas to improve the rigidity of the woven material, and an eavestrough,the eavestrough having a rear wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, avertical segment formed at an upper portion of the front wall, a topwall and a downwardly extending diagonal segment.

As aforementioned, the eavestrough cover has a front longitudinallyextending portion and a rear longitudinally extending portion.Intermediate the front longitudinally extending portion and the rearlongitudinally extending portion is a central portion. This centralportion is formed of a woven material as is known in the art. Embossedareas are provided in the woven material with the embossed areasextending in the traverse direction (i.e. between the frontlongitudinally extending portion and the rear longitudinally extendingportion.

The woven material may be selected from any suitable material (i.e. analuminum material, a stainless steel material, plastic material, etc.)and is preferably a woven wire mesh known as a micro mesh.

The embossments are arranged such that they extend upwardly to formgenerally transversely extending ridges between the front longitudinallyextending portion and the rear longitudinally extending portion. Theembossments, in a preferred embodiment, extend from the frontlongitudinally extending portion and the rear longitudinally extendingportion. It will be understood that modifications to such an arrangementmay be provided; in other words, some of the embossments may not extendcompletely transversely of the woven material and/or may extend atsomewhat of an angle with respect thereto such as an S or Z shape.

The front longitudinally extending portion is preferably formed of ametallic material such as aluminum and it is arranged to grip one sideof the woven material. To this end, the arrangement is such that thealuminum material is folded back on itself and pressed together toretain the woven material.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that there is provided an upwardlyextending portion which forms a wall to direct any excess water backtowards the center of the eavestrough cover. In this arrangement, thewoven material is gripped firstly by the portion forming the wall andalso by a further horizontal portion extending frontwardly from thewall.

In this arrangement, the front longitudinally extending portion alsopreferably includes a member which will engage with the eavestrough toassist in retention of the eavestrough cover.

The rear longitudinally extending portion is also preferably formed of ametallic material such as aluminum. Again, the rear longitudinallyextending portion is arranged to grip the woven material. Also,preferably the rear longitudinally extending portion has an upwardlysloping segment which assists in retaining water and directing the sametowards the central portion.

A rearwardly extending flange forms a portion of the rear longitudinallyextending portion. This flange is provided to fit under the tiles of aroof.

Preferably, the flange is of a substantial transverse length to reachbetween the eavestrough and the roof. In one embodiment, the flange isprovided with a line of demarcation or fold line above which the flangemay be folded if it is used in other situations. The line of demarcationmay comprise a longitudinally extending groove formed in the flangeportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made tothe accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a portion of an eavestrough coveraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a further bottom perspective view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the left hand side portionof the eavestrough cover shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the right hand side of the eavestroughcover seen in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the eavestrough cover mounted on aneavestrough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference charactersthereto, there is illustrated an eavestrough cover which is generallydesignated by reference numeral 10.

Eavestrough cover 10 has a front longitudinally extending portiongenerally designated by reference numeral 12 and a rear longitudinallyextending portion generally designated by reference numeral 14. Acentral portion generally designated by reference numeral 16 is formedof a suitable woven material as is known in the art. Central portion 16has a plurality of longitudinally extending filaments 18 andtransversely extending filaments 20 which together form the wovenmaterial.

Formed in the woven material are a plurality of transversely extendingembossments 22. As may be seen, embossments 22 extend upwardly—i.e. theembossed portion is on the upper surface of the woven material withreference to the normal placement of the eavestrough cover 10.

Front longitudinally extending portion 12 includes, proximate thecentral portion 16, a vertical upwardly extending segment 26. A verticaldownwardly extending segment 28 lies substantially parallel to verticalupwardly extending segment 26 to thereby retain a crimped portion 38 ofcentral portion 16 therebetween. Extending from the lower portion ofvertical downwardly extending portion 28 is an upper horizontal segment32. Lying underneath is a lower horizontal segment 34 which again isarranged such that there is a crimped portion 36 therebetween. Lowerhorizontal segment 34 terminates in a diagonally and downwardlyextending segment 38 designed to engage with the eavestrough.

Rear longitudinally extending portion 14 has a lower horizontal segment42 and a parallel intermediate horizontal segment 44. Retainedtherebetween is central portion 16 which is a crimped relationshiptherewith. An upper horizontally extending segment extends rearwardlyand is provided with a diagonally upwardly extending segment 47. Aflange 48 extends rearwardly to fit underneath the tiles of a roof.

It will be noted that rearwardly extending flange 48 terminates in afolded under segment 50. There is also formed a fold line 52 comprisinga groove which extends longitudinally of flange 48 such that flange 48may be bent thereabout in situations where the length of flange 48 isnot required. If desired, a plurality of fold lines could be providedtherein to form a desired length of flange 48.

The eavestrough cover 10 is shown mounted on an eavestrough generallydesignated by reference numeral 56. Eavestrough 56 includes a rear wall58, a bottom wall 60 and a front wall generally designated by referencenumeral 62. An upper segment 64 of front wall 62 extends substantiallyvertically and joins with a top wall 66. In turn, top wall 66 terminatesin a diagonally and downwardly extending segment 68.

As may be seen, eavestrough cover 10 engages with top wall 66 anddiagonal segment 68. Flange 48 extends rearwardly and is adapted to fitunder the shingles of an adjacent roof.

It will be understood that the above described embodiment is forpurposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. An eavestrough cover comprising: a front longitudinallyextending portion; a rear longitudinally extending portion; a centralportion extending between and secured to both of said frontlongitudinally extending portion and said rear longitudinally extendingportion, said central portion being formed of a woven material; and saidwoven material being embossed in a generally transverse direction so asto improve the rigidity of said woven material.
 2. The eavestrough coverof claim 1 wherein said woven material is formed of a metallic material.3. The eavestrough cover of claim 2 wherein said metallic material isselected from an aluminum material and stainless steel material.
 4. Theeavestrough cover of claim 3 wherein said woven material is embossed ina transverse direction extending between said front longitudinallyextending portion and said rear longitudinally extending portion.
 5. Theeavestrough cover of claim 4 wherein said woven material is embossed toform upwardly extending ridges.
 6. The eavestrough cover of claim 1wherein said front longitudinally extending portion and said rearlongitudinally extending portion are metallic strips.
 7. The eavestroughcover of claim 6 wherein said woven material is crimped between saidmetallic strips.
 8. The eavestrough cover of claim 7 wherein said wovenmaterial is crimped adjacent said front longitudinally extending portionto form an upwardly extending and longitudinally extending ridge.
 9. Theeavestrough cover of claim 8 wherein said front longitudinally extendingportion forms an upwardly extending wall adjacent said woven to helpprevent water overflow.
 10. The eavestrough cover of claim 1 whereinsaid rear longitudinally extending portion includes a substantiallyplanar portion designed to tit underneath roof tiles.
 11. Theeavestrough cover of claim 10 wherein said rear longitudinally extendingportion has a diagonally and upwardly extending segment proximate saidwoven material.
 12. The eavestrough cover of claim 8 wherein said frontlongitudinally extending portion has a substantially horizontallyextending upper segment and a substantially horizontally extending lowersegment, said woven material being retained therebetween, a terminatingsegment extending from said substantially horizontal lower segment, saidterminating segment extending diagonally downwardly.
 13. In combination,an eavestrough cover comprising: a front longitudinally extendingportion; a rear longitudinally extending portion; a central portionextending between and secured to both of said front longitudinallyextending portion and said rear longitudinally extending portion, saidcentral portion being formed of a woven material; said woven materialbeing embossed in a generally transverse direction so as to improve therigidity of said woven material; and an eavestrough, said eavestroughhaving a rear wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a vertical segmentformed at an upper portion of said front wall, a top wall and adownwardly extending diagonal segment.